Here Comes the Pun

The NY Post reported that the 19th precinct of the NYPD - which covers the Upper East Side - issued 6,600 citations to cyclists in 2011. Apparently, this is something to be proud of. Now, I’m all for issuing tickets to cyclists for serious violations - my top two being sidewalk riding and wrong-way riding - but it becomes scary how much of a hard-on the NYPD has for ticketing cyclists when these numbers are put into perspective.

The 1-9 issued 6,600 tickets to cyclists in 2011. It only issued a total of 16,562 traffic tickets in 2011. That means 40% of all the traffic tickets they issued went to cyclists. 45% of all the red-light running tickets they issued went to cyclists.

Of the three people killed by moving vehicles in the precinct last year, 0% were killed by cyclists. 100% were killed by cars and trucks. In fact, the same is true in the 237 traffic deaths city-wide. Speeding cars and trucks pose the most deadly threat to cyclists and pedestrians, and the 19th Precinct issued exactly 12 speeding tickets all year.

Again, I’m not opposed to enforcement of the law as long as it’s done fairly. But there is absolutely no way that this is fair when it does nothing to keep the residents of the Upper East Side safe from a real, actual threat that has taken real, actual lives.